[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6312599,"mediaKeyId","2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6","parentId",2390607,"title","Members and witnesses press risks from hiring, recruiting, Pentagon audits and fiscal strain","audioSeconds",1686,"startMs",2926000,"endMs",4612000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6&start=2926&end=4612","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6/thumbnail_2926000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312599/Members-and-witnesses-press-risks-from-hiring-recruiting-Pentagon-audits-and-fiscal-strain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312599-18a578eed49a9ec07fbf7d81b72a8e3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981233&Signature=Sc2QR3MfUcpVgwZfJObs7iH49pqvb-OBn2Yipxh6sy13AwEZ2S86ZSyY1U9Tte8vQYVsfNm09BhB-sE-hHsJ20YgTRt5VU8o5eoSgaq1eqhHz3Y8wK4w8Gb4OXEoVqpSP0rAnmIaOyO-Eo4Wuht~gyEIBCQmWxSMGGmXZTIb-K91pvOm8ZNZeYYk9~DIe8vagwslK4krsXUQWZN4Zdj4P96by9ZMDhLO6HEUMQxMcMp9OpNShBuo8qEyi-EGr4mrcdvrek6AZKJ7uHbtjGkjDEu1KWFC5mZBrXPqunHi3stGocmo2YydXORRKHujdmVAHkKl0njIB6f0z0MsmOMD9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Ranking Member Subramayan and several members emphasized the need to retain experienced civil servants, technical staff and military personnel, warning that firing or sidelining career experts can weaken national security.

Multiple witnesses and members raised recruitment and diversity policy as an element of readiness. Capt. Brent Sadler said recruiting numbers were “going through the roof” under the new administration when asked by members; other members argued the prior administration’s emphasis on DEI and training alienated some communities and that the military should focus recruitment on STEM and underserved geographic areas.

Representative Mfume noted the Defense Department had failed seven consecutive audits and said waste, fraud and abuse at the Pentagon needs correction to preserve readiness. Members discussed the national debt — cited in the hearing as roughly $36 trillion and an annual deficit of about $2 trillion — as an overarching constraint that will force agencies to seek efficiencies and reductions across the federal government.

Why it matters: witnesses and lawmakers linked personnel policy, recruiting, contracting and audit failures to long-term readiness and industrial capacity. Several members said fiscal constraints will lead this Congress to seek broad cost savings across agencies, including defense, while others warned against cuts that would hollow out critical capabilities.

What remains undecided: the hearing featured debate but no committee votes. Members said they will pursue oversight of hiring decisions, recruiting approaches and Pentagon financial management in future hearings.

Ending: Committee leaders pledged continued scrutiny of personnel policies, recruiting outcomes and Pentagon financial controls.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Emerging Global Threats: Putting America’s National Security First","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers and witnesses raised concerns about talent loss in the civil service and military recruiting policies, Pentagon audit failures and long-term fiscal strain; members discussed the implications for readiness and national security.","taxTitle","Oversight and Reform: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1835,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6312604,"Committee hears warnings on cyberattacks, undersea cable incidents and telecom espionage",218,3417000,3635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6&start=3417&end=3635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6/thumbnail_3417000.jpg","/articles/6312604/Committee-hears-warnings-on-cyberattacks-undersea-cable-incidents-and-telecom-espionage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312604-dc54232ffee3eff5d08b49ef3c89c029/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981233&Signature=CIKv27Y0RC33uGuMhGkPeKFgRCR2VMkcOu6n8DvcRhw9PnRwWN5QK1uvLmFTJ~OzzQ~z2toslS4JBkFNlubN2jR2pdbFwWjnF33GK9upytgvZVAEVwA-Oa-ZTv-moP-w61fht-p1pQ3kiWMyzijfFHsPEUGJmjOkd5Qj8NIBna12iMxHOSBNrazBXgnZiVk8sxiSdqifZ2bkOE9AMYqN8DTBe7NMXQRZ09OvC7xVMlZbeHabsYe9JU835X6k2X3MExuvuhkAXX7gXDdorQK~dGQsbU1dq-tJdvfVkJFzude82DpumNi2xG5DS9KImTfd8qJnt~MoiUfj2QHSo8tPWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers and witnesses spent part of the hearing focused on cyber threats to critical infrastructure, including reported undersea cable tampering and telecom intrusions attributed in public reporting to Chinese-backed groups.

Capt. Brent Sadler (ret.) told the subcommittee that recent incidents — including a reported boarding of a vessel suspected of cutting undersea cables near Taiwan — indicate an erosion of the comfortable “gray zone” and a shift to more overt actions that require coordinated economic, diplomatic and military responses. “We have to be ready for these types of incidents,” he said.

Representative Biggs and others referenced reporting about Chinese-backed hacking groups (named in public reporting as Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon) that U.S. officials said accessed energy and telecommunications systems and intercept points. Lawmakers entered materials into the record describing those intrusions and encouraged the committee to examine encryption, vulnerabilities in telecom infrastructure, and the balance between law-enforcement access and secure, end-to-end encrypted communications.

Why it matters: committee members and witnesses said successful intrusions into energy and telecom systems can expose high-value targets, disrupt communications, and erode public trust. Witnesses urged continued investment in cyber defenses and tools to hold attackers accountable, including options that can be carried out in secret by national security agencies and that may require months to prepare.

What remains undecided: members called for more resources and international cooperation but did not adopt new policy at the hearing. Several participants asked for classified briefings and follow-up on the technical details of alleged intrusions.

Ending: Committee members signaled intent to pursue additional oversight on cyber vulnerabilities to communications and energy infrastructure and to review potential policy responses.","Witnesses and members raised recent incidents of undersea cable tampering and Chinese-backed cyber intrusions into U.S. energy and telecom infrastructure, and urged more resources for offensive and defensive cyber tools.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6312608,"Witnesses urge U.S. leadership on hostages, Gaza and Iran in Middle East testimony",308,1964000,2272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6&start=1964&end=2272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6/thumbnail_1964000.jpg","/articles/6312608/Witnesses-urge-US-leadership-on-hostages-Gaza-and-Iran-in-Middle-East-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312608-f67ef0d0d8a6c5c866dc49feb93169d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981233&Signature=WLH9-SRL3MYtF9mHri5Z2OqfWyqX4FbkuCt295PaFzFiDtU2zhIrBc3g1AYazEHGwwuzYFDUL1zWQ4mSU8a8xYHzcf~3eFYBcRbNhmx6hwQs80X-8~tei~TaeosI9wBCjotwEIcZQ7Ok1wzTgm~XfOofDQaU4K0iDwdVKFaq--phaxLP1~WZGKT~jJ1OQKdZctEfAZAdWyArfMri3XZxViJ51DfBR0r1D7DrNR61BmV4uNX1RkQVdXFxJN9rEMIY-QL-DAYRnk2FSNoj7D9F9s3c3V2ftlxdtvMa7WnZ0StuAV23xZsXYf5~klXIy-vAJh6DT8HJm6O80rn1IWSkaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacob Olladart, identified in the hearing roster as a Middle East scholar and director at the America First Policy Institute, described the humanitarian and strategic stakes in the Middle East and urged U.S. leadership to prioritize hostage recovery and countering Iran’s regional influence.

Olladart opened with an account of an Israeli family harmed in Hamas attacks and said the events underscore “the true face of evil” and the need for decisive action. He argued that the United States must work with Israel and Arab partners to reduce Iran’s influence and to create a post-Hamas security arrangement in Gaza that would protect civilians while denying terrorist groups safe haven.

Why it matters: witnesses framed the Middle East as central to broader strategic competition, with consequences for Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. Olladart recommended congressional engagement, including delegations “on the ground” to learn directly from partners and to support administration policy as it develops.

What remains undecided: witnesses identified broad objectives — hostage recovery, countering Iran, and restarting the Abraham Accords — but did not present formal legislative proposals. Members asked witnesses for practical steps Congress could take; witnesses recommended travel, oversight and practical support for regional partners.

Ending: Members and witnesses agreed the Middle East remains a priority for national-security attention; the hearing provided floor time for witnesses to urge a mix of diplomatic pressure and regional burden-sharing.","A Middle East expert told the subcommittee that freeing hostages and countering Iran-aligned proxies should be U.S. priorities, and urged Congress to support diplomatic and regional partnership approaches.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6312613,"Witness tells subcommittee USAID 'became a racket'; calls for reform of soft-power programs",501,1659000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6&start=1659&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6/thumbnail_1659000.jpg","/articles/6312613/Witness-tells-subcommittee-USAID-became-a-racket-calls-for-reform-of-soft-power-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312613-231689b18993bbd893665fa5efdf4256/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981233&Signature=ONoL-OO1QU8CLfnGe20sRLMpUjMgcEcqVY147wzR5xtTaZ4Z5BvWVENZr~37XTuBr-VjzepdW8fOULgr~FMDc5StPlZZt~QgZV9uZ3tuz5OFYE2Z--odC7t591SM11MxcXTJo6G9PVVnZ-H3vYgtYFWhGqfdhqSOaYId~A0Nbps13g1hAGs0Y6995A4jbAr2WyxHCQFNEbw1LNYWhQwcoHbTyxgzwkroTdCWkiccEhPzJs~N3K812Y9F6Uckv8DpXP-E1nibYERRKokSjC0Bg8qtvSjEHdbx8usq1-tTMilWeBivV8BJ2QuVbzicnVNFKMliB2YHPe1FECSGPHDh6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Megan Mops, director of the Center for American Safety and Security at the Independent Women's Forum, told the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee that U.S. soft-power instruments need overhaul and better accountability.

Mops said decades of poorly targeted foreign-aid spending and bureaucratic waste have weakened U.S. influence and given authoritarian competitors propaganda advantages. “USAID became a racket,” she testified, adding that incentives in the aid bureaucracy had prioritized dollars obligated over outcomes achieved.

Why it matters: Mops argued soft power complements military strength in ways relevant to national security — for example, by building independent media in vulnerable states or funding infrastructure to counter Chinese influence. She also said some U.S. funding, by supporting culturally controversial projects, can be counterproductive in certain societies and can be exploited by adversaries for disinformation.

Mops criticized the United Nations as “paralytic” and suggested Congress consider reassessing U.S. support. Members asked about specific USAID projects and grant amounts later in the hearing; Representative Crane cited several small grants and cultural programs (e.g., $1.5 million for DEI work in Serbia, $70,000 for a musical in Ireland, $47,000 for an opera in Colombia) as examples raised during questioning. Mops and other witnesses said waste and corruption exist and called for focused reforms rather than elimination of all aid programs, while also noting ongoing humanitarian needs.

What remains undecided: The hearing included calls for oversight and reform, but no formal legislative actions were taken. Members indicated interest in further review of specific USAID programs and in defining performance metrics for soft-power spending.

Ending: Committee members signaled bipartisan interest in oversight; witnesses emphasized aligning soft-power spending with strategic national-security objectives while protecting humanitarian assistance.","A witness testified that U.S. soft-power tools, including USAID and the U.N., have drifted from strategic interests and require reevaluation and reform to better serve national security goals.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6312618,"Subcommittee hearing spotlights China, Russia and gaps in U.S. deterrence and supply chains",2874,726000,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6&start=726&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390607-85bcae6764b69cdc87a0cbf493c877d6/thumbnail_726000.jpg","/articles/6312618/Subcommittee-hearing-spotlights-China-Russia-and-gaps-in-US-deterrence-and-supply-chains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312618-9b067fc68ab1b2962b85c1ee983fc3b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981233&Signature=U9n-nuegw3M3PnHHVpJSQuZ5CZ93Fg07ZaoZvAcl1zvI6NjqPDDHWBnQcBkuO6BRq8DKNhMQg1wNj9PVRoayY8jTp~72suBnki1bocKDvu8bP2Tkoa2KZ53ii-HekpO7qETeh5Rey2G1KiK2gplquThsmPuVa-sGXzsnsdXOtVeyTBCU8IXWDO-VsO~sF80tzhUW0UgKF126PFUjRqvlyspH6a29yiMM9asvD7ThZjK3NB16BKj9XUHhrkvd8rQodt0dwAmPCzXdxNPsAlBYKvua8Wg8Wj02NV9F7-d5lCgvDfkwuyHpgi1fweuluqJ8ve9wfP9m2d~HMFZZ3Rab5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Timmons opened the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs hearing by saying the United States faces “strategic drift” and weakening global deterrence after recent policy choices.

At the top of the hearing, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Brent Sadler, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told lawmakers the U.S. strategic posture “is shooting behind the duck, to use a Southerner's term here,” and warned that China and Russia have increased capabilities while U.S. capacity and readiness have lagged. “We have to do all three of those things” — readiness, capacity and new capabilities — he said.

Why it matters: witnesses said allies and partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, are watching U.S. commitments closely. Lawmakers and witnesses tied readiness shortfalls to tangible risks: long backlogs in foreign military sales, limited domestic munitions production, and reliance on global supply chains that adversaries can leverage.

Sadler and others cited several specific shortfalls and dependencies raised during testimony. Lawmakers were told the U.S. had allocated about $124.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine in nearly three years, compared with roughly $89 billion committed over 20 years in Afghanistan. Sadler said a U.S. foreign military sales backlog to Taiwan totaled about $20.5 billion as of September 2024 and said U.S. artillery production stood at roughly 14,000 rounds per month at the start of the Ukraine war while Ukraine was expending about 20,000 rounds per day. He argued those constraints amplify the urgency of reforming procurement, clearing foreign military sales backlogs, and scaling industrial capacity.

Lawmakers pressed witnesses on ways to get equipment to partners faster. Sadler said timely processing and industrial capacity are both required: “It is processed as much as it's money, but it's also industrial capacity,” and that sustained demand and funding are necessary to rebuild production lines.

Witnesses also raised maritime and force-posture concerns in Asia. Sadler noted China’s naval growth to more than 370 warships compared with roughly 295 U.S. ships and cited confrontations in the South China Sea and at Second Thomas Shoal as evidence of rising risk. Several members asked whether the U.S. should move faster on arms sales to Taiwan and on clearing bureaucratic backlogs.

What remains undecided: lawmakers and witnesses discussed fixes — reorganizing government processes akin to the 1947 National Security Act, prioritizing munitions and allied deliveries, and strengthening the defense industrial base — but the hearing did not produce formal committee directives or votes.

The hearing moves into subsequent oversight topics including cybersecurity, foreign aid and diplomatic posture.

Ending: Members said they will continue oversight and press for reforms to procurement, foreign military sales processing, and industrial mobilization to reduce the risk of being outmatched in high-end competition.","Witnesses told the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs that competition with China and Russia, depleted munitions, and fragile defense supply chains threaten U.S. deterrence and require reforms in foreign military sales and industrial capacity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Members and witnesses press risks from hiring, recruiting, Pentagon audits and fiscal strain

Committee hears warnings on cyberattacks, undersea cable incidents and telecom espionage

Witnesses urge U.S. leadership on hostages, Gaza and Iran in Middle East testimony

Witness tells subcommittee USAID 'became a racket'; calls for reform of soft-power programs

Subcommittee hearing spotlights China, Russia and gaps in U.S. deterrence and supply chains